United Kingdom by-election records

18740: 19157:

An arguable gain; Stockport was a two-member seat; in the 1918 general election it was won by two supporters of the Coalition Government, one a Liberal and one a Labour member. After a death and a resignation, a by-election was held for both seats. The seats were again won by two Coalition Government

16854:

In April 2023 Benton had the whip removed after he had offered to reporters, posing as investors, that he would lobby ministers in return for payments. A parliamentary investigation concluded that he had breached lobbying rules and recommended a 35-day suspension from the House of Commons, triggering

13709:, represented by a Labour MP turned independent and a Labour speaker respectively and both won by Labour). The span of 14 years, 10 months and 8 days is the longest period without a by-election defeat for either of the two main parties. The Conservatives did not lose a seat between the 23845:

The more fluid nature of politics in Northern Ireland makes it harder to define all major parties. In addition many by-elections have not been contested by parties holding other seats in the House of Commons, whether due to agreements with other parties, poor organisation in the constituency or the

16865:

resigned, after losing an appeal against suspension from the House of Commons, in the wake of allegations that he had drunkenly groped two men. The Committee for Standards concluded Pincher's "profoundly damaging" behaviour "represented an abuse of power", causing significant damage to Parliament's

12838:

The usual causes of by-elections – death or resignation – mean that incumbent MPs are rarely candidates. Typically, this only occurs if an MP deliberately triggers a by-election to get a mandate for a party change, or to bring a particular issue to public attention. More rarely, it can occur if an

7719:

Under current UK electoral law there is no upper or lower limit for candidature numbers, with the only required stipulation being the valid nomination of ten electors from the constituency. By-elections often attract "fringe" or novelty candidates, single-issue candidates, or independents. As with

7495:

During the Second World War the electoral register was not kept up to date despite significant population movements, especially in the London area (which contains all three constituencies in the first list below). Consequently, only those eligible to vote in the constituency at the outbreak of war

13600:

Notes The Labour Party were the official opposition in the Parliament elected in 1935, but after the major parties agreed an electoral truce on the outbreak of war in 1939, they did not contest any Conservative or Liberal seats for the remainder of the Parliament, a period of six years, and were

13756:, the principal opposition Conservative Party failed to register a by-election gain against the incumbent Labour Government. This is the longest period of such failure since records began, and more than twice the previous record of the five years it took the then Labour opposition to gain the 15056:

Very occasionally, a scheduled by-election may be overtaken by the calling of a general election and the dissolution of Parliament, in which case the poll is countermanded by the Returning Officer. There have been only three occasions since 1918: a by-election was scheduled to take place in

13826:

Apart from the above example, it is common for UK mainland parties to schedule several by-elections on the same day. Motivations include attempting to divide opponents' resources and getting bad news (expected losses) out of the way. Since 1945, the largest number of simultaneous mainland

23869:. a single "unity" candidate was backed by the withdrawal of the Democratic Unionist Party, Ulster Conservatives and Unionists and Traditional Unionist Voice. Prior to Mid Ulster in 2013, the most recent examples of by-elections without official Democratic Unionist candidates were the 24017:, the Conservative party fell from second to fifth place (equalling its previous lowest position in a by-election in mainland Britain) while the Liberal Democrats fell from third place to eighth, the lowest ranking ever achieved by a major party in a by-election. This followed the 24055:, held on the same day as Bromley and Chislehurst, the Conservative Party's fifth-place ranking equalled the worst-place achieved by a major party in England or Wales, a feat the Conservatives had first achieved in the same seat in the 2005 general election. The Blaenau victor, 23977:

was the first Liberal Democrat gain since 2010, showing tentative signs of recovery for the party. It also gave them a female MP for the first time in the 56th parliament. In addition it was the first occasion in more than a century of Labour losing their deposit in a London

13830:

Before November 2012, the last day on which three by-elections had been held was 23 November 2000. In November 2012 there were two such groupings of three (15 November and 29 November). The last time there were six by-elections in one calendar month was in June 1994.

23938:

It is unusual for one of the major parties to finish outside of the top three in England and Wales (or outside of the top four in Scotland). It is also unusual for the principal opposition party to suffer a significant reverse in its share of the vote or ranking.

19182:, regarded as a gain from the contest at the United Kingdom general elections in 1997 and 2005 respectively as those seats had been contested by the then Speakers of the House of Commons. Prior to assuming the Speakership they had both been elected as Labour MPs. 23997:

delivered several records. It was the first time in an English seat that both Labour and Conservative finished outside of the top two. For the first time, UKIP came close to winning a seat. It was the closest three-cornered English by-election since the

7496:

were eligible to vote in the by-elections, and many of those were physically unable to vote, as they were located elsewhere; in addition the major parties did not compete against each other. The lowest turnout in peacetime since 1918 was 18.2% at the

23846:

particular circumstances on the by-election. However, for the period since 1981 (which saw the first by-elections in twelve years, during which time several major political realignments had occurred) the main parties are usually considered to be the

18874:. Against his new colleagues' advice, he honoured a pledge to face his electors under his new party colours and precipitated a by-election. He came second in the by-election which was won by the Conservatives. The new Labour candidate finished third. 24257:: A Conservative gain (from Labour in this case) at a by-election for the first time since 1982, and the first time as an opposition party since 1978, demonstrated the Conservatives were back in contention to possibly win the next general election. 13744:. The DUP and Plaid Cymru have defended but never lost a seat at a by-election, Sinn Féin have only lost seats by disqualification, and the UUP have never lost more than one seat in a row. No by-election has ever been called in an SDLP held seat. 23969:

saw Labour finish fourth behind the Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Brexit Party. In addition, UKIP fell to last place, behind the Official Monster Raving Loony Party – a result compared to the continuing SDP's defeat in the 1990 Bootle

17286:

By-elections are ostensibly to vote for a 'person', not a 'party', meaning that a member switching parties mid-term is not cause for a by-election. However, some members do seek re-election under their new party as a point of principle.

65:

and the various unions of these Kingdoms had been assembled since the medieval period, though these bodies only gradually evolved to be democratically elected by the populace and records are incomplete. England and Wales had numerous

13810:

of 1985. They intended the results to be interpreted as a referendum on the treaty. The elections were boycotted by the main Nationalist parties except in four seats where they had a reasonable prospect of victory. In the event, the

1566:

A party's share of the vote at a general election is not always matched at subsequent by-elections, but given the five-year maximum term of a Parliament, reductions of 20% or more are unusual. Those of 25% or more are listed below:

24074:

was their worst result in a Conservative-held seat while in opposition since 1930. At the same by-election, the Labour Party's fall from second to fourth place was the first time the party had suffered such a reverse in an English

18040:

was found to be disqualified through membership of National Assistance panels. A bill indemnifying him from the consequences of acting as an MP while disqualified was passed by the House of Commons; Beattie did not stand in the

24337:

demonstrated that nationalist voters could support violent Republican candidates; taken by the Republican movement as a vindication of their stance, it led to the return of Sinn Féin as a major force in Northern Irish

17828:

resigned following his resignation from the Liberal party and joining the Labour Party. He did not contest the by-election out of fairness to the existing Labour candidate. The seat was narrowly held by a new Liberal

2453:, had previously been elected as a Labour candidate in prior elections, when the ILP was affiliated to Labour. Prior to his death, Wallhead joined the Labour Party, so this result could be classed as a Labour hold. 5141:, was held to elect two MPs. The winners' shares of the total vote were 25.6% and 25.1%. However, as each voter could cast two votes, the situation is not readily comparable to other by-elections in this period. 14810: 13728:

Since their formation, the Liberal Democrats have held every Lib Dem seat contested at a by-election, of which there have been 3. Including their predecessor parties, their most recent by-election loss was the

24142:, the Liberal Party could take only fifth place. Beaten by an independent and a minor party candidate, at the time, this was the worst placing for any major party in an English by-election since at least 1945. 24043:

the Labour Party finished in fifth place, the worst ranking for the party in its history, and a record low for any government in a UK mainland constituency. The lowest ever for an incumbent government was the

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Furthermore, there are various additional factors complicating comparisons between earlier results and modern cases. Among the most significant aspects of historical elections which are no longer present are:

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saw the election of the first UKIP MP on the largest swing ever against the Conservative Party. It was also the first time that a party had gained a seat not having contested the previous election since the

13733:, lost by the SDP 42 years, 3 months and 20 days ago. The SDP candidate had however defected from Labour – the last seat lost by either party that had been won at a previous election was the 23947:

had all three major English parties finish outside of the top two. The incumbent Labour party fell from first to fourth place, with its largest-ever loss of vote share, after disowning their own candidate.

12545:

Most physically disabled MPs in the history of the parliament entered in the intakes of general elections. Those known to have been disabled when entering parliament at by-elections are rarer and include:

12995:

The years 1998 and 2020 stand as the two in modern British history without any Westminster election. 1992, 1998, 2010 and 2020 are the four full calendar years in history without a single by-election.

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was disqualified as an MP after inheriting a peerage, which made him ineligible to sit in Commons. Benn ran again in the following by-election and won, but was disqualified. He would go on to win the

6737:

a majority of 3 for the Unionists was overturned on petition, where it was found that both candidates had an equal number of votes. A fresh by-election was called, which was won by the Liberals. The

13235:

and the sitting Labour MP defecting to the Social Democratic Party and seeking re-election under his new party label. The Conservatives' last gain while in Opposition was 30 years previously at the

14838: 14834: 10759: 13717:, a span of 12 years, 6 months and 12 days. However, they only defended 3 seats in that time. In terms of total number, their longest run of by-election holds was 51, between the 14696: 11912: 17332:

Resigned, citing irreconcilable differences with his party owing to a "lurch to the right", he could no longer accept the appellation "Conservative" or continue to represent his constituents.

25711: 25353: 14700: 13827:

by-elections has been 6, held on 16 November 1960. On four occasions, 5 by-elections have been held on the same day, most recently on 9 June 1994. Groupings of two or three are very common.

13737:, lost by the Liberals 67 years, 6 months and 26 days ago. Since 1982, the Liberal Democrats and predecessors together have defended 4; since 1957 they have defended 5 seats. 20449: 23825:, choosing instead to endorse the Liberal Democrat candidate in a "Stop Brexit" alliance. Prior to that, the last Welsh by-elections without official Welsh Nationalist candidates were the 15088:

after the 1918 general election. Four Sinn Féin candidates were elected in two different seats and would have had to decline one of them if they had wanted to take their seats. They were

18099:

was found to be disqualified owing to his holding government contracts. A bill indemnifying him was passed by the House of Commons and Samuel was narrowly re-elected at the by-election.

14796: 14792: 12578: 105: 17270: 14860: 14856: 14852: 14848: 14618: 12320:

Whilst the first ethnic minority Members of Parliament were elected at general elections as early as the 1890s, it would be almost 100 years before one was returned at a by-election.

10182: 24036:

the Liberal Democrats came sixth in both cases, equalling the worst ever placing by a major party in the UK. In 1999 the party had 634 votes while in Glasgow the party won 474 votes.

8696:

in December 2015. He was defeated on each occasion, coming closest in Heywood and Middleton where he lost by less than 700 votes. Bickley also contested Heywood and Middleton at the

18169: 12598: 25183:

A verdict of accidental death was recorded at the inquest. Clitherow was a medical doctor and had taken seven barbitone tablets, described by the pathologist as a "bold dose". See

23930:

contested some but not all seats. The SDLP has traditionally seen itself as a "sister party" to the British Labour party, and its MPs usually accept the Labour whip in Parliament.

24630: 16833:

was convicted of perverting the course of justice in relation to motoring penalty points issued in 2017. This was the first successful recall petition under the provisions of the

12568: 18079:

was found to be disqualified owing to his holding government contracts. A bill indemnifying him was passed by the House of Commons and Preston was re-elected at the by-election.

12060: 25311: 18522: 25673: 14746: 14742: 14738: 12458: 12454: 12446: 11922: 24221: 18022:

from his father. Although by-elections were routinely called where Members had succeeded to the Peerage, the seat was not considered vacated until the Member had received a

12588: 14824: 14820: 14686: 14682: 12554: 12477: 12088: 8887: 19936:

It is unusual for a political party which has not contested a seat at a general election to take it at a subsequent by-election. Independent candidates are not included.

16976:

resigned after being suspended from the House of Commons for six months by the Parliamentary Standards Committee for asking parliamentary questions in exchange for money.

13794:

Apart from the brief parliaments of 1910, 1950-1 and 1974, the parliaments of 1951-5 and 1997-2001 are the only occasions when the Government did not lose a by-election.

14460: 14274: 35: 18271:

resigned to permit him to donate his thoroughbred racing stock to create a National Stud in an "arms-length" transaction. He was returned unopposed at the by-election.

14632: 12130: 12074: 25694:

Northern Ireland Assembly vacancies are filled by co-option. Local Government by-election results are generally given on the page for the last election in that area.

25387: 12116: 12102: 11902: 11232: 8971: 8822: 5867:

Bevan put his occupation of "Systems Designer" in the description field of the nomination paper, which appeared on the ballot paper. He was an independent candidate.

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NB: The above list does not include the names of three members whose deaths on active service were overtaken by the 1945 general election. For a complete list see

12608: 5855: 3812: 23901: 14928: 14204: 13620: 79: 23907:

The last by-elections without official Ulster Unionist candidates prior to Mid Ulster in 2013 were North Antrim, East Belfast, Mid Ulster and North Down in the

25558: 24677: 24287:

group, as Walton Real Labour, opposed a Labour candidate for the first time; their showing led to the decision to re-organise as Militant Labour without using

24198:: A pair of by-election losses for the government on the same day – one in a rural area represented by the Conservatives since 1923 and one in a recently won " 23575:(Conservative candidate awarded seat after 1961 by-election had agreed to stand aside, if law changed to permit disqualified Labour candidate to take his seat) 14626: 14622: 7727:

All by-elections with more than ten candidates are listed. Elections are listed in alphabetical order. Those that created a new record number appear in bold.

78:

which allowed some women to vote for the first time and greatly expanded the franchise of men, overall more than doubling the size of the electorate, and the

25468: 24273:: A Labour gain on a large swing just weeks before a general election confirmed the move in the party's favour was real and meant the Conservatives became a 23750:. The by-election was a single-issue election in regards to government security policy, in which the Liberal Democrats supported the Conservative candidate. 10032: 8790: 8350: 25012: 15061:

on 21 November 1923, but was cancelled by a dissolution of Parliament on 16 November. A by-election was scheduled to poll between 13 and 17 October 1924 in

25716: 17881:

resigned and re-contested his seat following his expulsion from the Irish Nationalist group for not signing the party pledge. Re-elected as an independent.

17686:

Resigned seat in opposition to Conservative policy. Returned unopposed as an independent Conservative and subsequently re-elected in 1906 as a Liberal MP.

16939: 9391: 25553: 25548: 25543: 25538: 25533: 25528: 25523: 25518: 25513: 25508: 25503: 25498: 25493: 24667: 17797: 15058: 11419:

disqualified (Beattie was never elected. He was awarded the seat on the disqualification of his predecessor, only to be found to be disqualified himself)

9625: 25613: 25608: 25603: 25598: 25593: 25588: 23897: 20582: 14932: 14830: 14212: 10279: 10152: 10126: 9912: 7217: 6813: 175:- the party that held the seat at the immediately previous election, irrespective of any intervening change of candidate or candidate's change of party 24703: 19567:

On rare occasions a party has failed to overturn an incumbent in the by-election yet has gone on to gain the seat at the subsequent general election.

24626: 24330: 23893: 20072: 19537:

candidate was effectively a right-wing unofficial Conservative, who subsequently took the whip and was re-elected as official Conservative candidate.

14802: 14208: 13624: 13150:

was killed in action on 29–30 May 1940. Initially posted missing, his death was not presumed until January 1941. The writ was moved on 22 April 1941.

12843:, an MP chooses to run after a recall petition against them succeeds. Historically, such cases were more common due to ministerial by-elections (see 10906: 10521: 9179: 8541: 6878: 129:

Since 1945, the legal and general political situation regarding by-elections has been broadly stable, allowing for meaningful comparison of records.

13775:. In this period, the Conservative government lost three seats in by-elections where the former Conservative incumbent stood for a different party ( 25678: 19161:

National Liberal elected in 1922 election had his election declared void (electoral fraud). Resulting by-election was a gain for the Conservatives.

18870:

had been re-elected as Labour MP for the seat in the 1979 general election. In 1981, along with several other MPs, he defected to the newly formed

14970: 14562: 12106: 11563: 11546: 10258: 8654: 18150:

was expelled after being found to be in extreme contempt of the House by his peers after selling details of private parliamentary meetings to the

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resigned after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice in relation to persuading his wife to accept motoring penalty points in 2003.

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By-elections in seats held by minor and nationalist parties are rare, and so most have never lost a seat. The SNP lost their first seat at the

12224: 12206: 10381: 8937: 8391: 6090: 4848: 25238: 23791:; the Lib Dems nominated a candidate, but he joined the Labour Party before the election. No official Liberal candidate was nominated for the 19198:

These records show the rare occasions when the official Opposition failed to hold on to a seat they had won at the previous General election.

17963:

was declared void because ballot papers which had not received the official mark would have affected the result, if counted. Liberal Democrat

17766:

resigned to force a by-election on the issue of civil liberties. He was re-elected with neither of the other main parties contesting the seat.

19840: 17998: 17825: 17274: 17043: 17029: 17015: 17001: 16802: 15804: 15184: 15121: 15117: 14788: 14502: 13816: 13741: 12678: 12196: 10428:

fails to defend the seat for the Conservatives, after publicly stating that for electors not to support him would be a moral victory for the

9820: 9261: 7973: 5709: 3900: 2574: 1246: 25636: 25631: 25315: 22919: 21337: 20595: 18030:, and Benn, who refused to accept the Peerage, did not apply for one. The seat was declared vacant by a resolution of the House of Commons. 17946: 17913: 15196: 14873: 14844: 14320: 13655: 13643:, losing a record 15 consecutive seats where they were the incumbents. By the time of the by-election in Uxbridge, the victor in Richmond, 10208: 9985: 8421: 478: 10739:

defeated in this race, as anti-Coalition Liberal contesting against a Coalition Liberal, three years after abolition of his previous seat.

24458:, on platform of rearmament and anti-Indian Home Rule, hands safe seat to Labour on largest ever swing (30%). Indication of hostility to 24158: 21820: 20346: 19587: 18848: 18492:

Notes: The above list is of those members either mentioned as having died on War Service in a written Commons answer from Prime Minister

17940: 17899: 17638: 17315: 16887: 15144: 14936: 14692: 14650: 14446: 14362: 14246: 12926: 12770: 12174: 11858: 11802: 11303: 10787: 10467: 10449: 10305: 10275: 10074: 9651: 9547: 9365: 8782: 8741: 8431: 7800: 7073: 6237: 5795: 5563: 5472: 3950: 2449:

to 9.8% (a record 59.6% loss) losing the seat to the Labour Party. However, the 1931 election had no Labour Party candidate, and the MP,

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was found to be disqualified owing to his holding government contracts. Gibbs resigned and was re-elected unopposed at the by-election.

17025: 14914: 12168: 11854: 10283: 9599: 9443: 8685: 7603: 6904: 6453: 6163: 4694: 4207: 25563: 8763: 25461: 24365: 24090:. At the time their worst ranking in an English by-election since at least 1945 was the drop from third place to fourth place in the 21942: 19158:

supporters, but this time a Conservative and a Liberal, while a Labour candidate who did not support the government was unsuccessful.

18883:, defected to Labour and sought re-election under his new colours. He was successful, and the new Liberal candidate lost his deposit. 15168: 12574: 11792: 10802: 10313: 10040: 9269: 8056: 1543: 1030: 18119:

was found to be disqualified owing to his holding government contracts. Gibbs resigned and was narrowly defeated at the by-election.

16894:

resigned 'with immediate effect', in advance of findings of his repeated contempts, and that he deliberately misled Parliament over

13787:, lost to the Liberal Democrats). Their first loss in a by-election without a sitting incumbent was to the Liberal Democrats at the 8724:, and competed in 34 by-elections (1 for the National Teenage Party) between 1963 and 1997. His highest vote total was 1,114 at the 25090: 24071: 22859: 20791: 20760: 18656: 17422: 17260: 16702: 15133: 15129: 14734: 14654: 14404: 12182: 11156: 10190: 9313: 8732:

of the Corrective Party contested eleven by-elections without success, her highest total being 216 votes as 'Lady Whiplash' at the

8164: 7572: 6722: 6399: 3637: 24478:: Election of an anti-Coalition Conservative in a tight three-way contest spurred on Conservative MPs to end their coalition with 12981:

ran in both of these despite being disqualified from the House of Commons. He won in 1955, but was disqualified, and lost in 1956.

24682: 24064: 23966: 23822: 23747: 21173: 21145: 21000: 19286: 19070: 18062: 17759: 17143: 16816: 15746: 15216: 15204: 15105: 15093: 14984: 14900: 14720: 14706: 14576: 14516: 14488: 14474: 14334: 14306: 14232: 13987: 13788: 13243: 12898: 12854: 12760: 11869: 11643: 11119: 11009: 10377: 10339: 9607: 8992: 8984: 8812: 8808: 8798: 8693: 8441: 7787: 7758: 7703: 6651: 6291: 5815: 5777: 12400:

were prepared to accept Anglican communion, thus ensuring that members of these creeds were represented in the Parliament. Some

225:- an election where only one candidate is put forward. No votes are actually cast and the candidate is by definition the victor. 24401: 23279: 22362: 22302: 22123: 18880: 18470: 17927: 16820: 15887: 15721: 15604: 15230:

was elevated to the Peerage on 20 April 1964, and no writ was moved by the time Parliament was dissolved on 25 September 1964.

15097: 14886: 14816: 14678: 14604: 14534: 14390: 13189:

The longest period without a seat changing hands in a by-election was the five years between the Conservative victories in the

12858: 12210: 12056: 11193: 10842: 10343: 10265: 8858: 8830: 8689: 8226: 7623: 6381: 6201: 6182: 6033: 5145: 3512: 3062: 2549: 1915: 718: 31: 17541:

Resigned the Conservative whip over the Suez crisis, and then resigned from Parliament on obtaining a business appointment in

25131: 24341: 24191: 23958:

to the Conservatives, was the Labour Party's worst result in a Labour-held seat while the party was in Opposition, since the

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returns after disclaiming his peerage. He had been disqualified after the death of his father in 1960, and his election in a

9508: 9144: 8807:

is the only person in modern times to gain the same seat twice in two different by-elections. He triumphed for Labour in the

8666: 8069: 8036: 7663: 6543: 5743: 5426: 5217: 5194: 5036: 4769: 4394: 4044: 3187: 2987: 814: 694: 550: 136:. However, the politics of Northern Ireland is mostly separate from that of Great Britain so comparisons can be problematic. 75: 27: 25454: 24451: 24430:

re-elected after inheriting a peerage; the seat was awarded to the defeated Conservative, but the circumstances led to the

24405: 24263:: A Lib Dem gain of a Labour safe seat on a 29% swing demonstrated the political effect of public dissatisfaction with the 24225: 24022: 23677: 23529: 21764: 19918: 19892: 19866: 19814: 19788: 19762: 19736: 19710: 19684: 19658: 19632: 19606: 18836: 18460: 18086: 17988: 17978: 17968: 17960: 17950: 17905: 17753: 17696: 17662: 16488: 16426: 16057: 15070: 15034: 14978: 14974: 14752: 14658: 14584: 14580: 14524: 14418: 13209: 12811: 12462: 12416: 12120: 11759: 11727: 11687: 11557: 11485: 11369: 10809: 10100: 10011: 9789: 9205: 8794: 8697: 8329: 6052: 3037: 2469: 2446: 2140: 1687: 526: 182: 47: 18747: 13607:

Notional gain: incumbent Conservative stood as UKIP. No UKIP candidate has ever defeated an incumbent of a different party

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Sought re-election as an Independent 'Democratic Labour' candidate after being deselected by his CLP; he was successful.

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assassinated on 22 August 1922). In each case their seats were abolished in 1922 as a result of the establishment of the

14440: 14436: 14300: 14296: 14268: 14264: 14226: 14222: 14194: 14063: 13925: 13767:

The Labour Party, in its period in opposition starting in 2010, did not register a gain for over nine years, between the

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Labour candidate Azhar Ali was disendorsed by the party at the time of the election, due to alleged anti-Semitic comments

862: 598: 18892:

These records show the rare occasions when the government won a seat they had not won at the previous general election.

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British Parliamentary elections are invariably held on a Thursday. The last by-election not held on a Thursday was the

15010: 15006: 14612: 14608: 14598: 14594: 14556: 14552: 14356: 14352: 13812: 13803: 13681: 13666: 13488: 13190: 12950: 12918: 12785: 12672: 12286: 11981: 11607: 10722: 10692: 10584: 10471: 10374:

stands as an independent Conservative to protest against a third runway at Heathrow. He loses to the Liberal Democrats.

9555: 9326: 8876: 8767: 8647: 8531: 8286: 7953: 7731: 7345: 7137: 6945: 6800: 6726: 6345: 6327: 6127: 5738: 5311: 5286: 5048: 4836: 4469: 4182: 3775: 2666: 1762: 1587: 1126: 327: 116: 12388:

When the UK Parliament was established in 1801, non-Anglicans were prevented from taking their seats as MPs under the

25433: 25420: 24995: 24882: 24776: 24280: 24162: 24124: 24087: 24018: 24007: 23777: 23665: 23647: 23511: 23439: 22950: 21673: 21503: 21446: 21059: 20380: 20310: 20038: 19482: 19272: 19105: 18986: 18958: 18574: 18450: 18346: 18217: 17572:

Supported the Conservative government's Suez policy, resigned after being asked to by his Constituency Labour Party.

17250: 17123: 17059: 17007: 16931: 16775: 16496: 16272: 16092: 15509:

As a mark of respect for the murdered MP, none of the other major parties had a candidate to contest the by-election.

14770: 14764: 14760: 14510: 14506: 14159: 14142: 13939: 13915: 13636: 13499: 13194: 13143: 12699: 12662: 12305: 12031: 11943: 11657: 11060: 10861: 10857: 10815: 10459: 10429: 10309: 9152: 8677: 8670: 8643: 8046: 8026: 7963: 7516: 7393: 7329: 6255: 5920: 5633: 5615: 5023: 4973: 4544: 4169: 4119: 4019: 3787: 3687: 3012: 2912: 2737: 2649: 2290: 2265: 2065: 1812: 1222: 910: 502: 430: 16884:

resigned in advance of results of investigation into alleged sexual harassment, and his admission to taking cocaine.

25485: 24414:: Prime Minister Sir Alec Douglas-Home successfully returned to the House of Commons after disclaiming his peerage. 23914:

The main British parties have generally not stood in seats in Northern Ireland. The by-election exceptions are the

23792: 23732: 23451: 23402: 22396: 21197: 21168: 19496: 18714: 18366: 18306: 17953:

was declared void because the victor was found guilty of knowingly making false statements about a rival candidate.

17846: 17807: 17763: 16938:

resigned amid controversy surrounding a report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards that found that him

16901: 16847: 16605: 16558: 16170: 16065: 15751: 15473: 15322: 14881: 14877: 14528: 14328: 14324: 13289: 12902: 12732: 12648: 12634: 12519: 12505: 12377: 12359: 12260: 12064: 11495: 11259: 11129: 10928: 10923: 10395: 10271: 9633: 8826: 8319: 8196: 8185: 8101: 7825: 7613: 7249: 6705: 6071: 5997: 5939: 5380: 5123: 4911: 4594: 4482: 3912: 3712: 2887: 2415: 2390: 2340: 1737: 1102: 766: 16: 20448:

In addition to the above section, other minor party successes include the following. For a complete list, see the

24033: 23926:(NI Conservatives). Prior to the 1970s the Ulster Unionists were effectively the local Conservatives, whilst the 23773: 23584: 22636: 22518: 22487: 22209: 22118: 21873: 21531: 18628: 18376: 18247: 18106: 18102: 18076: 18048: 17895: 16788: 15995: 15428: 15038: 14454: 14450: 14370: 14366: 14254: 14250: 13898: 13757: 13722: 13635:

The Conservatives did not successfully defend a single by-election in the eight years between their holds of the

13247: 12978: 12686: 12618: 12491: 12271: 12216: 12078: 11985: 11908: 11667: 11627: 10849: 10829: 10658: 9763: 9711: 9425: 9373: 8339: 8306: 8111: 7281: 6923:

It is highly unusual for a by-election to attract a higher turnout in a seat than the previous general election.

6309: 5495: 5073: 4432: 4319: 4082: 3462: 3387: 2472:

the heavily unionist area gave the Irish Unionist 94.6% of the vote in a contest with a Sinn Féin candidate). An

2040: 1637: 1533: 958: 646: 24025:. The Rotherham by-election was also the first recorded by-election result to have women in the top four places. 23787:

Prior to 2008, the last by-election without an official Liberal Democrat, Liberal or SDP candidate had been the

24840: 24231: 24139: 24060: 24052: 23974: 23800: 23721: 23706: 23671: 23558: 23542: 23493: 23463: 23445: 23312: 23190: 23128: 23099: 22890: 22746: 22415:

George Galloway MP was a party member, but was usually considered Independent Labour in Parliament at the time

22028: 21968: 21937: 21878: 21475: 21202: 20786: 20755: 20724: 20532: 20507: 20397: 19743: 19613: 19524: 19412: 19356: 19342: 19133: 19007: 18993: 18854: 18237: 18159: 18129: 17737: 17667: 17628:

Sought re-election as Labour Party candidate having been offered role of Attorney General by Ramsay MacDonald.

17073: 17035: 16949: 15546: 15436: 15284: 15212: 14922: 14918: 14049: 14018: 13784: 13694: 12864: 12800: 12638: 12154: 11995: 11991: 11677: 11577: 11281: 11097: 10987: 10836: 10732: 10712: 10664: 10564: 10367: 10312:, the Labour candidate, lost the seat in the party's greatest-ever reverse while in Opposition. Former Labour 9815: 9659: 9503: 9243: 9070: 9044: 8949: 8662: 8141: 8079: 7943: 7653: 7643: 7561: 7550: 7361: 7201: 7121: 6687: 6615: 6363: 6145: 5357: 4419: 4244: 4219: 4069: 3937: 3487: 3437: 3237: 3137: 3112: 2962: 2762: 2524: 2215: 1872: 1198: 1078: 982: 838: 454: 382: 25438: 12419:(to succeed his brother who had entered the House of Lords), having converted to the faith the previous year. 25477: 25116: 24650: 24513: 24509: 24270: 24234:: After losing most of its seats in the 2015 general election, a Lib Dem gain on a large swing in a strongly 24091: 23796: 23578: 23552: 23347: 23342: 22578: 22547: 22178: 22173: 21992: 21963: 21932: 21908: 21903: 21789: 21587: 20971: 20910: 20693: 20552: 20249: 20242: 20004: 19665: 19091: 18862:

Labour candidate Azhar Ali was suspended at the time of the election, due to allegedly anti-Semitic comments.

18227: 18190: 18054: 18019: 17919: 17867:

resigned from the Liberal Party on the issue of compulsory national service. He stood as an Independent with

17783: 17745: 17028:

resigned as Speaker rather than face a vote of no confidence, amid criticism of his actions arising from the

16826: 16771: 16378: 15464: 14782: 14180: 13702: 13677: 13469: 13439: 13236: 12775: 11959: 11808: 11553: 11505: 11347: 11237: 11075: 10624: 10544: 10497: 10415: 10411: 10349: 9781: 9742: 9399: 9126: 9100: 8966: 8713: 8624: 8498: 8216: 8151: 7903: 7880: 7811: 7633: 7504: 7473: 7185: 6633: 6597: 6507: 6489: 6471: 6109: 5725: 5673: 4998: 4873: 4494: 4094: 3962: 3762: 3725: 3662: 3537: 3162: 3087: 2937: 2862: 2812: 2674: 2365: 2115: 1883: 1712: 1006: 406: 18751: 24614: 24534: 24524: 24469: 24324: 24006:, it was won with the lowest winning share of the vote since 1918. Aside from the contrived example of the 23987: 23826: 20941: 20817: 20283: 20266: 20089: 20062: 20045: 19847: 19821: 19365: 18871: 18092: 17994: 17891: 17449: 17147: 17113: 16959: 16280: 15663: 15227: 14094: 12644: 12192: 11884: 11512: 11391: 10634: 10551:, who had sat for the seat 1954–74, stands as an independent Conservative, winning a mere 1.5% of the vote. 9482: 9199: 9165: 9088: 8894:

of February, March and April 1769, on each occasion being subsequently expelled from the House of Commons.

8748: 8635: 8508: 8371: 6734: 6417: 5093: 4968: 4948: 4732: 4264: 3837: 3379: 3372: 3337: 2837: 2457: 2240: 2190: 1837: 1400: 574: 24313:: Labour's successful defence of a marginal seat stabilised the party, and secured the position of Leader 19551:

had been elected as Independent Labour, took the whip for a while, before reverting to Independent Labour.

18234:

resigned before being declared bankrupt. He discharged his bankruptcy and was returned in the by-election.

17000:

recommended he be suspended from the service of the House for twelve months; their inquiry arose from the

13613:

after the Sinn Féin candidate was disqualified, but the UUP candidate was also disqualified shortly after.

25580: 24952: 24792: 24640: 24620: 24558: 24310: 24294: 24260: 24199: 24146: 24098: 24083: 24079: 24045: 23951: 23923: 23915: 23885: 23874: 23870: 23866: 23815: 23758: 23548: 23517: 23481: 23457: 23372: 23367: 23337: 23307: 23296:

Party represented in the European Parliament, and also represented in the House of Commons following the

22830: 22797: 22769: 22741: 22391: 22357: 21853: 21754: 21731: 21616: 21559: 21390: 21262: 21088: 20879: 20848: 20607: 20557: 20191: 20174: 20157: 20123: 20021: 19899: 19873: 19795: 19769: 19717: 19384: 19321: 19243: 19171:

Liberal MP defected to Labour and was re-elected as Labour at a by-election the Liberals did not contest.

19049: 18916: 18720: 18680: 18662: 18652: 18638: 18608: 18554: 18464: 18406: 18370: 18356: 18336: 18330: 18286: 18133: 18116: 18044: 18033: 17991:

was declared void because there were irregularities in the election expenses of the successful candidate.

17981:

was declared void because there were irregularities in the election expenses of the successful candidate.

17956: 17555: 17511: 17459: 17400: 17234: 17173: 16945: 16905: 16566: 16245: 16197: 15809: 15692: 15361: 15037:

was held on Wednesday 27 June 1973. Prior to that, the last by-elections not held on a Thursday were the

14996: 14992: 14988: 14908: 14904: 14728: 14724: 14714: 14710: 14520: 14496: 14492: 14482: 14478: 14342: 14338: 14314: 14310: 14240: 14236: 14039: 14001: 13761: 13734: 13718: 13701:, Labour successfully defended every seat it held at by-elections, for a total of 30 holds (not counting 13698: 13610: 13582: 13522: 13379: 13213: 13129: 12974: 12970: 12908: 12822: 12805: 12795: 12780: 12765: 12754: 12721: 12717: 12668: 12594: 12328: 12324: 12239: 12126: 12015: 12005: 11963: 11865: 11755: 11587: 11526: 11516: 11475: 11451: 11445: 11422:

retired at next general election (seat abolished by redistribution and failed to secure alternative seat)

11134: 11031: 10950: 10823: 10773: 10766: 10654: 10578: 10511: 10435: 10421: 10401: 10385: 10301: 9993: 9581: 9529: 9456: 9217: 8891: 8733: 8639: 8488: 8401: 8296: 8266: 8256: 7933: 7870: 7857: 7847: 7836: 7297: 7233: 7153: 7041: 7009: 6977: 6961: 6865: 6852: 6826: 6787: 6774: 6730: 6579: 6561: 5978: 5759: 5689: 5571: 5567: 5556: 5449: 5263: 5098: 4986: 4669: 4519: 4344: 3887: 3737: 3412: 3312: 3287: 2787: 2609: 2499: 2165: 2015: 1965: 1862: 1662: 1376: 1270: 622: 262: 12376:

The first by-election in which all three major-party candidates were from the ethnic minorities was the

24592: 24574: 24538: 24417: 24304: 24195: 24113: 24014: 23999: 23994: 23830: 23523: 23469: 23159: 23068: 22774: 22718: 22492: 22240: 21418: 21287: 21116: 20225: 19691: 19370: 19021: 18806: 18588: 18386: 18360: 18143: 18112: 18096: 17832: 17818:

with Conservative support. He was defeated, finishing bottom of the poll. The Liberals gained the seat.

17727: 17493: 17395: 17099: 17049: 16989: 16979: 16921: 16675: 16531: 16100: 15960: 14894: 14890: 14778: 14542: 14538: 14398: 14394: 14149: 13970: 13877: 13772: 12790: 12339: 11697: 11597: 11536: 11532: 10682: 10604: 10357: 9920: 9737: 9451: 9321: 9295: 9018: 8838: 8834: 8725: 8518: 8381: 8246: 7923: 7890: 7593: 7441: 6891: 6738: 6525: 5518: 5138: 4898: 4886: 4719: 4444: 3362: 1523: 1506: 1448: 742: 67: 23605:(National Liberals stood aside to allow election of National Government minister from National Labour) 10675:, for Labour, but fail to take a Conservative seat three years after both lost their respective seats. 46:

Although the history of Parliament is much older, most of these records concern only the period since

24907: 24568: 24485: 24359: 24217: 24188:, presaging the success of several pro-Gaza independent candidates at the following general election. 24177: 24165:, which were essentially intra-Conservative contests, the previous worst result was, ironically, the 23944: 23847: 23834: 22333: 22271: 22087: 22056: 21815: 21362: 21279: 21233: 21034: 21029: 20487: 20317: 20140: 20011: 19953: 19534: 19510: 19440: 19328: 19307: 19267: 18930: 18842: 18824: 18781: 18686: 18632: 18594: 18390: 18173: 17923: 17874: 17840: 17814:

resigned from the Labour Party over its policy on China, and re-contested the seat as an Independent

17418: 17200: 17183: 17137: 16858: 16851: 16751: 16513: 16506: 16315: 15226:

Other than these cases the longest time a seat has been left vacant with no by-election held is when

15023: 14964: 14960: 14950: 14946: 14774: 14672: 14668: 14384: 14380: 14104: 13908: 13640: 13592: 13458: 13319: 12749: 12483: 12220: 12178: 11953: 11782: 11673: 11637: 11583: 11325: 11288: 11244: 10965: 10854: 10742: 10702: 10644: 10594: 10534: 10232: 9854: 9131: 8978: 8919: 8276: 8236: 7993: 7457: 7089: 6839: 6694: 6604: 6134: 6015: 5403: 4794: 4369: 4194: 4144: 4132: 4107: 3657: 3104: 3097: 2879: 2872: 2624: 2315: 2125: 1950: 1890: 1787: 1612: 1604: 1482: 1465: 1174: 934: 886: 358: 334: 122:

Generally higher turnouts, although several wartime elections exhibited the lowest recorded turnouts.

25215: 24855: 24832: 17657:

Sought re-election as Labour Party candidate following disillusion with leadership of Lloyd George.

15048:

Until the mid-1960s, it was common to hold by-elections on any day of the week (other than Sunday).

13650:

Labour's worst run was 4 consecutive by-election losses, which has occurred three times since 1945:

24564: 24548: 24503: 24475: 24245: 24181: 24166: 23982: 23762: 23659: 23626: 23397: 23297: 22692: 22631: 22602: 22573: 20627: 20482: 20363: 20293: 20208: 20130: 20106: 19987: 19960: 19548: 19426: 19302: 19238: 19056: 18830: 18696: 18676: 18584: 18474: 18440: 18072: 18058: 18001:

was declared void because of corrupt practices and bribery on the part of the successful candidate.

17609: 17464: 17371: 17177: 17133: 16741: 16710: 16205: 15716: 14756: 14426: 14422: 14198: 13848: 13776: 13659: 13308: 13173: 13153: 12942: 12888: 12533: 12349: 12098: 11772: 11748: 11717: 11683: 11455: 11320: 11215: 11070: 10972: 10793: 10783: 10678: 10588: 10558: 10477: 10408:

fails to regain the seat for the Conservatives, after losing by only 2 votes six months previously.

10391: 10295: 10164: 10019: 9946: 9685: 9677: 8931: 8581: 8564: 7983: 7773: 7693: 7409: 7377: 7169: 7025: 6435: 6273: 6219: 5831: 5810: 5790: 5772: 5702: 5666: 5651: 5646: 5608: 5541: 5334: 5043: 4923: 4861: 4789: 4619: 4569: 4382: 2442: 2090: 1990: 1940: 1779: 1772: 1629: 1597: 1054: 670: 351: 310: 286: 25197: 24619:

First by-election in which 18 year olds could vote, and party labels were included on the ballot:

24238:

seat marked the beginning of a turnaround for the party and demonstrated the political effects of

23611:(Conservatives stood aside to allow election of National Government minister from National Labour) 18089:

was disqualified for voting before he took the oath. He was returned unopposed at the by-election.

18023: 5879:

All majorities of less than 1,000 since the Second World War. Bold entries indicate a new record.

24528: 24437: 24393: 24320: 24056: 24040: 23959: 23807: 23766: 23377: 23248: 22802: 22542: 22513: 22482: 22453: 22422: 22149: 21759: 21140: 20915: 20520: 20198: 20147: 20055: 19906: 19854: 19835: 19809: 19731: 19705: 19679: 19646: 19620: 19594: 19477: 19463: 19449: 19407: 19393: 19351: 19316: 19229: 19217: 19154:

Seat awarded by Election Court to Conservative runner-up because Labour victor deemed ineligible.

19119: 19112: 19077: 18911: 18618: 18558: 18430: 18420: 18380: 18326: 18264: 17974: 17868: 17674: 17589: 17582: 17531: 17378: 17349: 17322: 17210: 17150:

resigned after he was arrested to be tried by court-martial on 13 charges of disgraceful conduct.

17117: 17039: 16969: 16745: 16727: 16720: 16692: 16685: 16622: 16615: 16583: 16461: 16386: 15970: 15932: 15922: 15826: 15819: 15797: 15790: 15768: 15761: 15687: 15680: 15673: 15650: 15614: 15585: 15417: 15410: 15371: 15301: 15294: 14173: 14132: 14111: 14077: 14056: 14025: 13891: 13844: 13760:. Labour did however lose 3 seats to the Liberal Democrats in that period, their first being the 13710: 13428: 13419: 13368: 13359: 13299: 13227:, the opposition Conservative Party had not gained a seat in almost 26 years, the last being the 12408: 12309: 12188: 12140: 12045: 12011: 11647: 11633: 11310: 11276: 11222: 10994: 10832: 10779: 10648: 10614: 10202: 10176: 10134: 10120: 10108: 10061: 9827: 9801: 9775: 9749: 9723: 9697: 9671: 9645: 9619: 9593: 9567: 9541: 9515: 9385: 9333: 9307: 9281: 9255: 9187: 9138: 9082: 9056: 9030: 9004: 8870: 8864: 8852: 8551: 8478: 8411: 8206: 8174: 8121: 8003: 7510: 7425: 6993: 6712: 6658: 6622: 6586: 6460: 6442: 6424: 6406: 6370: 6298: 6244: 6226: 6152: 6116: 6098: 6022: 6004: 5966: 5958: 5946: 5928: 4918: 4843: 4744: 4739: 4532: 4489: 4414: 4364: 4269: 4239: 4139: 3932: 3832: 3682: 3632: 3554: 3547: 3504: 3497: 3472: 3154: 3147: 2979: 2972: 2641: 2584: 2516: 2407: 2400: 2375: 2325: 2300: 2275: 2250: 2232: 2207: 2175: 2100: 2075: 2000: 1907: 1847: 1822: 1797: 1747: 1722: 1647: 1516: 1492: 1441: 1410: 1393: 1280: 1256: 1232: 1191: 1167: 1150: 1136: 1088: 1064: 1040: 1023: 999: 975: 944: 920: 896: 872: 848: 824: 800: 776: 752: 704: 680: 656: 608: 584: 560: 512: 471: 440: 416: 375: 296: 202: 109: 24768: 24762: 18393:

died suddenly, apparently from overwork as military secretary at Southern Command Headquarters.

10346:

runs again after being removed by a recall petition and loses the seat to the Liberal Democrats.

8781:

was distinguished in being successful in no fewer than five by-elections in different seats, in

8607:

contested no fewer than four by-elections during his career, topping the poll on each occasion:

24672: 24646: 24128: 23990:. The Liberal Democrat's 1.4% of the vote was their worst result in an English seat since 1924. 23955: 23614: 23566: 23505: 23039: 22665: 22384:

MP was a party member, but was usually considered Independent Labour in Parliament at the time

21611: 21582: 21554: 21526: 21498: 21470: 21441: 21413: 21385: 21357: 21327: 21297: 21257: 21111: 21083: 21054: 21024: 20527: 19750: 19698: 19224: 19140: 19000: 18480: 18434: 18350: 18316: 18251: 18082: 17821: 17710: 17681: 17153: 17066:

resigned after he was criticised by a Select Committee for business links to corrupt architect

16834: 16796: 16600: 16030: 15977: 15939: 15780: 15633: 15395: 15378: 14570: 14566: 14087: 13994: 13963: 13932: 13840: 13806:. The elections had been engineered by the incumbent Unionist parties as a protest against the 13768: 13714: 13602: 13338: 13200:

During the short Parliaments of 1910, 1950-1 and 1974 no seats changed hands in a by-election.

12840: 12431: 12150: 12041: 12025: 11933: 11778: 11617: 11542: 11266: 11171: 11104: 11016: 10686: 10487: 10443: 10439: 10321: 9768: 9209: 8752: 7913: 7583: 7313: 7105: 6669: 5661: 5513: 5467: 5398: 5375: 5352: 5329: 5258: 5235: 5212: 5189: 5118: 4893: 4689: 4644: 4589: 4564: 4514: 4389: 4339: 4289: 4214: 4114: 4089: 4064: 4039: 3522: 3454: 3447: 3329: 3322: 3254: 3247: 3212: 3204: 3197: 3029: 3022: 3004: 2997: 2954: 2947: 2559: 2432: 2007: 1982: 1829: 1729: 1356:

towards the governing party in by-elections. However, there are some examples of it happening.

1353: 1287: 1215: 1119: 1095: 855: 831: 790: 735: 687: 639: 615: 567: 447: 423: 235: 190: 58: 24472:: Unexpected Labour gain in a previously safe Conservative constituency, ascribed to pacifism. 23731:

The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, UKIP, and Green Party declined to run candidates in the

13123: 12905:

resigned to force a by-election in protest of government policy on civil liberties. Davis won.

12647:, who was left permanently disabled and unable to walk by a hunting accident in 1930, won the 25623: 24517: 24499: 24397: 24249: 23859: 23710: 23274: 23243: 23214: 23185: 23154: 23123: 23094: 23063: 23034: 23005: 22976: 22945: 22914: 22885: 22854: 22825: 21997: 21703: 21283: 19994: 19977: 19776: 18564: 18548: 18544: 17773: 17214: 16867: 16403: 16396: 16262: 16255: 15490: 15483: 15453: 15446: 15278: 13839:

The largest number of by-elections lost on a single day is three, when the Labour party lost

13820: 13807: 13552: 13541: 13479: 12922: 12243: 12035: 12001: 11441: 11354: 11038: 10618: 10463: 10361: 9586: 9171: 6640: 4764: 4614: 3957: 3782: 3757: 3732: 3179: 3172: 3129: 3122: 3072: 2854: 2847: 2829: 2822: 2754: 2747: 2634: 2541: 2534: 711: 303: 62: 54: 25030: 24825: 21017:

Party represented in the European Parliament and subsequently (as Reform UK) at Westminster

20988:

Party represented in the European Parliament and subsequently (as Reform UK) at Westminster

18487:

committed suicide owing to his fear that a leg-injury might prevent his service in the War.

17454:

Sought re-election having defected to newly formed SDP; defeated by Conservative candidate.

10398:

fails to regain for the Conservatives a seat he lost by only 33 votes four years previously.

24874: 24185: 24153:. The Liberal parliamentary contingent was thus reduced to five MPs, its lowest ever level. 24010:

it was also the first time Labour had finished fourth in a by-election while in Opposition.

23927: 23884:

The last by-election without official candidates from either Sinn Féin or the SDLP was the

22367: 21726: 21698: 20729: 20602: 18700: 18690: 18666: 18221: 17864: 17604: 17056:

resigned after a newspaper story revealed that his previous denials of an affair were lies.

16420: 16239: 15139:

By the end of the Parliament, the following Sinn Féin MPs had died without being replaced:

13562: 12915:

ran again after his previous win at the 1997 general election was declared void. Oaten won.

12560: 12143:

for the Conservatives. He had been previously MP for the same seat as a Liberal in 1852–65.

12070: 12021: 11613: 11522: 10749:

failed to defend the seat, over a year after losing his previous seat, losing it to Labour.

10736: 9534: 8717: 8472: 3675: 2473: 2461: 96: 9174:, then co-founding the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He had first sat as a Labour MP for 8: 24349: 24274: 22432: 21843: 20404: 20232: 20215: 20181: 19519: 18704: 18646: 18300: 17854: 17801: 17140:

resigned after being found to have accepted gifts from businessmen for political favours.

17042:

resigned after being debarred as a Labour candidate, due to allegations arising from the

16953: 15955: 13802:

The largest number of by-elections held on a single day occurred on 23 January 1986 when

12427: 12146: 12136: 12112: 11939: 10769: 9638: 5848: 5299: 2465: 93:

Frequent coalitions between parties, splits within parties and floor-crossing by members.

25330: 25013:"The tale of Bristol's fascist-sympathising, disability rights-promoting first woman MP" 10484:, former Labour and Democratic Labour MP, stands for the SDP, fails to take Labour seat. 25136: 24544: 24479: 24455: 24372:

that he would probably win a snap general election, and led to the construction of the

24150: 24048:

when the Conservatives came sixth, although they had not previously contested the seat.

21784: 21668: 21640: 20936: 20652: 20164: 20096: 19913: 19880: 19505: 19491: 19435: 19379: 19253: 19186: 19086: 19063: 18972: 18867: 18602: 18410: 17909: 17836: 17811: 17703: 17645: 17616: 17430: 17254: 17157: 16047: 16040: 15658: 14070: 13177: 13137: 13133: 12936: 12728: 12497: 12355: 11703: 11653: 11376: 11254: 11178: 10746: 10706: 10146: 10094: 10087: 9716: 9703: 9300: 8818: 8681: 7721: 6676: 6352: 5986: 5908: 5490: 5306: 5281: 5111: 5011: 4664: 4639: 4582: 4539: 4439: 4007: 3981: 3850: 3279: 3272: 3229: 3222: 3054: 3047: 2929: 2922: 2804: 2797: 2282: 2182: 2157: 1704: 1679: 1458: 879: 807: 759: 543: 519: 495: 279: 186: 71: 25354:"Brecon and Radnorshire by-election result: Ukip beaten by Monster Raving Loony party" 25239:"Ex-Tory MP David Warburton resigns after suspension over harassment and drugs claims" 22016:

Party represented in the Parliament of Northern Ireland and previously at Westminster

21985:

Party represented in the Parliament of Northern Ireland and previously at Westminster

21925:

Party represented in the Parliament of Northern Ireland and previously at Westminster

17857:, although he was disenchanted with a range of Labour party policies. He was defeated. 17752:

of the Liberal Democrats. Goldsmith later regained his seat the following year at the

17734:

resigned in opposition to a bill that allows the issuance of new oil and gas licences.

17390:

Joined the UK Independence Party over policy on European Union membership referendum.

17361:

Joined the UK Independence Party over policy on European Union membership referendum.

15089: 12461:. Both were also won by Bradlaugh, who eventually was able to take his seat after the 12396:

took communion at Anglican churches until 1795, and some continued to do so, and many

25446: 25429: 25416: 25110: 25065: 24991: 24878: 24836: 24772: 24704:"Tories lose two key byelections on same night in Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton" 24383: 24284: 24059:

was the first independent to hold a seat previously occupied by an independent since

20432: 20387: 20370: 20353: 20334: 20300: 20028: 19887: 19861: 19828: 19802: 19757: 19724: 19672: 19653: 19627: 19601: 19295: 19281: 19165: 19126: 19098: 19037: 19014: 18923: 18724: 18622: 18578: 18493: 18275: 18241: 18163: 18066: 17815: 17652: 17623: 17562: 17542: 17500: 17471: 17442: 17407: 17092: 16823:

pleaded guilty to filing false expenses claims, and a recall petition was successful.

16657: 16650: 16576: 16548: 16541: 16478: 16471: 16443: 16436: 16414: 16367: 16360: 16332: 16325: 16297: 16290: 16222: 16215: 16187: 16180: 16162: 16152: 16145: 16117: 16110: 16082: 16075: 16012: 16005: 15904: 15897: 15882: 15738: 15731: 15709: 15702: 15643: 15621: 15592: 15563: 15556: 15339: 15332: 15172: 15160: 15152: 15148: 14166: 14118: 14032: 14008: 13977: 13946: 13884: 13532: 13449: 13389: 13329: 13278: 13253:

As of 23 September 2024, the most recent gains for each currently active party were:

13160:

was presumed killed in action on 31 May 1940; the writ was moved on 27 February 1941.

12564: 12525: 12442: 12290: 11734: 11398: 11332: 11200: 11141: 11082: 10945: 10935: 10845: 10805: 10796: 10696: 10608: 10601:

stands as a National Party candidate, 22 years after losing his seat as a Liberal MP.

10254: 10236: 10139: 10068: 10047: 10026: 10005: 9979: 9958: 9932: 9906: 9880: 9847: 9664: 9489: 9463: 9437: 9411: 9359: 9229: 9175: 9112: 9010: 8845: 8737: 6550: 6532: 6514: 6496: 6478: 6388: 6334: 6316: 6280: 6262: 6208: 6190: 6170: 6078: 6060: 6040: 5536: 5444: 5421: 5068: 5018: 4993: 4943: 4868: 4714: 4464: 4314: 4189: 4164: 4014: 3907: 3882: 3857: 3807: 3750: 3707: 3529: 3479: 3404: 3354: 3347: 3304: 3079: 2904: 2897: 2691: 2616: 2591: 2566: 2425: 2382: 2357: 2350: 2332: 2307: 2257: 2225: 2200: 2150: 2132: 2082: 2057: 2050: 2032: 2025: 1975: 1957: 1932: 1925: 1900: 1879: 1854: 1804: 1754: 1697: 1672: 1654: 1622: 1499: 1475: 1434: 1417: 1386: 1263: 1239: 1208: 1184: 1160: 1143: 1112: 1071: 1047: 1016: 992: 968: 951: 927: 903: 783: 728: 663: 632: 591: 536: 488: 464: 392: 368: 344: 320: 272: 210: 102:

Generally more significant competition from independent candidates and minor parties.

24220:: A Conservative win in a previously safe Labour seat seemed to confirm the party's 23877:. They also did not stand in the twelve seats held by other Unionist parties in the 17599:

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, resigned in protest at Suez invasion policy.

17130:

resigned after conviction for importuning for immoral purposes in a public lavatory.

16813:

of breaching COVID-19 travel rules in 2020, and suspended from the House of Commons.

10581:

stands as an Independent Labour Anti-Abortion candidate, securing 10.3% of the vote.

8936:

returns after losing Bradford West in the 2015 general election, and failing to win

8700:, making a total of four parliamentary elections contested in fewer than 24 months. 24598: 24463: 24445: 24431: 24353: 23888:. Both parties also declined to stand in the eleven Unionist majority seats in the 23736: 23634: 23133: 22023: 22002: 21228: 20929:

Party represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly and historically at Westminster

19555: 19185:

The Conservatives were in Coalition government, led by the Liberal Prime Minister,

19028: 18484: 18231: 18152: 17885: 17633: 17366: 17127: 17107: 16925: 16855:

a recall petition. Benton's subsequent resignation as an MP prompted a by-election.

16806: 16667: 16632: 16022: 15949: 15775: 15316: 15220: 13167: 12892: 12872: 12550: 12202: 11898: 11798: 11788: 11713: 11593: 10716: 10548: 10333: 9998: 9899: 9495: 9339: 9235: 9192: 9036: 8997: 8778: 5161:

Major parties winning 2% or less share of votes cast in a by-election, since 1918:

4607: 4257: 133: 25293: 19931: 18005: 17194: 12693: 115:

Higher frequency of by-elections, partly due to the practice of often uncontested

25243: 24985: 24914: 24894: 24345: 23593:(National Liberals stood aside to allow election of National Government minister) 23562: 23407: 22381: 20545: 20475: 18598: 18454: 18414: 18211: 18177: 18037: 17934: 17850: 17577: 17090:

resigned after his visits to prostitutes and use of cannabis were exposed by the

17077: 16881: 16453: 16342: 15599: 15541: 15355: 15200: 15188: 15101: 13208:

The Liberal Party endured 29 years without a single by-election gain between the

13147: 12713: 12624: 12584: 12511: 12297: 11918: 11481: 11026: 10982: 10960: 10672: 10538: 10518:

narrowly fails to win for the SDP from Labour in its first parliamentary contest.

10425: 10287: 9729: 9430: 9378: 8924: 8658: 8577: 5086: 4782: 3825: 3800: 25266: 24307:: Defeat of a left-wing Labour candidate demonstrated the party's vulnerability. 13216:. It did not win a single by-election in the thirteen years between holding the 12921:– All unionist MPs in Northern Ireland resigned and ran again in protest of the 10729:

failed to take a Conservative seat, coming third, ten years after standing down.

209:

are also considered to be third parties. Prior to 1922, the third party was the

25380:"Monster Raving Loony Party 'finishes off' UKIP by beating them in by-election" 24758: 24362:: Scottish National Party victory massively boosted the prospects of the party. 23630: 23599:(National Labour stood aside to allow election of National Government minister) 21883: 21678: 20853: 20651:

Minor parties without representation in the House of Commons which saved their

19540:

seat awarded by Election Court to Conservative runner-up because Labour victor

18670: 18612: 18340: 18310: 18290: 18147: 18027: 17772:: Fifteen Unionist MPs resigned and re-contested their seats in protest at the 17731: 17691: 17264: 17087: 17053: 17014:

resigned after pleading guilty to charges of false accounting arising from the

16993: 16973: 16963: 16830: 16594: 15914: 15069:

was cancelled by a Motion in the House of Commons following the calling of the

15027: 12614: 12604: 12577:, who lost sight of an eye in an accident on military service in 1786, won the 12469: 12423: 12365: 12267: 11471: 11364: 11298: 11151: 10819: 10758:

Until the Re-election of Ministers Acts 1919 and 1926 there were many cases of

10195: 10156: 9794: 9755: 9404: 9092: 8804: 8729: 4332: 2450: 151:- victory by a party that was not victorious at the immediate previous election 23: 24927: 20822: 16956:

verdict that he had assaulted, harassed and victimised a parliamentary worker.

14188: 10591:

stands for Labour in a safe Conservative seat, 19 years after losing his seat.

25705: 25069: 24636: 24373: 24369: 24203: 24145:

The last time the Liberals lost a by-election they were defending was at the

23725: 23587:(Conservatives stood aside to allow election of National Government minister) 23581:(Conservatives stood aside to allow election of National Government minister) 22682:

Party of same name which was dissolved in 1990 was represented in Parliament

22552: 22401: 22276: 22183: 22092: 21221:

Party represented in the European Parliament and subsequently at Westminster

21190:

Party represented in the European Parliament and subsequently at Westminster

20884: 20698: 20502: 20436: 19337: 18728: 18538: 18444: 18400: 18320: 18194: 17878: 17741: 17721: 17550: 17519: 17337: 17224: 16935: 16891: 16871: 16862: 16810: 16233: 15628: 15389: 15180: 15164: 15125: 15113: 13644: 13232: 13157: 12882: 12868: 12654: 12389: 12345: 12119:

for the Liberals. He was previously MP for the same seat from 1852 until the

11929: 11768: 11693: 11623: 11603: 11386: 11166: 11114: 11048: 10726: 10568: 10505: 10491: 10405: 10371: 10329: 10317: 10291: 10240: 9951: 9573: 9521: 9417: 9222: 8956: 8646:. He had been first elected as a Labour MP almost 34 years previously in the 8627:. His first and last by-election victories were 33 years and 3 months apart. 5805: 4936: 4757: 4682: 4632: 4507: 4407: 4032: 3925: 3875: 2779: 2772: 399: 74:. The most recent significant expansions of the electoral franchise were the 24420:: A Liberal gain in a suburban seat led to a national revival for the party. 24210:

and contributed to the pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson that led to

24021:, where the Liberal Democrats took sixth place, dropping from second at the 18775: 18635:

had died in England of wounds received from a landmine on the Western Front.

17120:

resigned after conviction for gross indecency with a guardsman in Hyde Park.

7523:

Turnouts of less than 30% since 1945 (bold indicates a new post-war record)

6721:

Still smaller majorities have been recorded since 1918. The majority in the

169:- victory by a party. ambiguous term that could mean either a gain or a hold 24708: 24387: 24314: 24184:

highlighted Labour's difficulties with Muslim voters due its stance on the

23317: 23253: 23073: 22955: 22924: 22864: 22307: 22061: 21794: 20995: 20966: 20946: 20577: 20079: 18788: 18467:

was killed in action in a plane crash while serving with the Fleet Air Arm.

17244: 17103: 17067: 17011: 16765: 16523: 15192: 15140: 15065:

but was cancelled by a dissolution of Parliament on 9 October. In 2017 the

14867: 13616: 13615:

Sinn Féin have not gained a seat at a by-election since 1918. However, the

13140:

was torpedoed on 17 September 1940; the writ was moved on 9 September 1941.

13124:

Longest period between a vacancy arising and a by-election writ being moved

12946: 12682: 12401: 12397: 12274:, although she had previously sat for the same seat between 1923 and 1924. 12235: 12160: 12084: 12077:

for the Tories. He was previously MP for the same seat from 1819 until the

11744: 11723: 11663: 11188: 10913: 10481: 10261: 9925: 9612: 9560: 9469: 9352: 9274: 9248: 9118: 9049: 8841:. On these last two occasions, he was re-elected having resigned the seat. 5061: 4657: 4557: 4357: 3625: 163:- victory by a party that was victorious at the immediate previous election 38:, death, disqualification or expulsion) during the course of a parliament. 24382:: Rare Conservative loss in Opposition leads to resignation of leader Sir 24327:

in a rock-solid Conservative seat showed the national appeal of the party.

23851: 23746:

Neither the Liberal Democrat nor the Labour Party stood candidates in the

18447:

was killed in action over northern France while a gunner in Bomber Command

18363:

was killed in a plane crash in Gibraltar while escorting General Sikorski.

18343:

was killed in a plane crash in Gibraltar while escorting General Sikorski.

18166:

was expelled after being convicted of fraud, perjury and false accounting.

15085: 13571: 12407:

The first by-election victor (and first ever MP) to be an adherent of the

10651:

fails to regain for the Liberals the seat he previously sat for 1929–1931.

9204:

returns as the first-elected SDP MP. She had first sat as a Labour MP for

8736:. Sutch's successor as leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, 6568: 2659: 157:- defeat of a party that was victorious at the immediate previous election 24981: 24867: 24554: 24488:: massive swing to Labour prefigures the party's eclipse of the Liberals. 24441: 24334: 23714: 23705:

Labour joined the Liberal Democrats and the Greens in not contesting the

23164: 22245: 22144: 22113: 22082: 22051: 21307: 21207: 20570: 18568: 18424: 17749: 17281: 17167: 17063: 16983: 16915: 16307: 15570: 15273: 13511: 12658: 12335: 12256: 12133:

for the Conservatives. He was previously MP for the same seat in 1847–61.

11970: 11949: 11573: 11491: 11461: 11092: 10901: 10668: 10638: 10628: 10598: 10529: 10515: 10453: 9690: 9158: 9075: 9062: 9023: 8883: 8631: 4961: 4707: 4457: 4307: 4232: 4157: 4057: 3700: 3650: 3429: 3422: 3397: 3297: 2684: 206: 19: 24368:: Easy Labour victory in a marginal seat demonstrated to Prime Minister 19562: 18403:

died while taking part in an exercise for the Home Guard at Westminster.

17510:

Resigned from the Labour Party in disagreement with its stance opposing

16782: 13688: 10689:

fails to take a seat, 20 years after standing down as an independent MP.

2476:

candidate won the seat, with the Irish Unionist share dropping by 52.8%

25428:

by David Butler and Gareth Butler (St. Martin's Press, New York, 1994)

25267:"Boris Johnson deliberately misled Parliament over Partygate, MPs find" 18642: 18523:

Records of members of parliament of the United Kingdom#Second World War

17964: 17488: 16792: 16755: 16127: 15876: 13630: 13242:

Labour's longest lean stretch was almost 18 years, between gaining the

13203: 12912: 12671:, who walked with a limp since severe wounding in World War I, won the 12323:

The first ethnic minority candidate to be elected in a by-election was

11004: 10799:

was defeated in a subsequent attempt to return to the House of Commons.

10760:

members having to seek re-election on appointment to ministerial office

10525: 10501: 9287: 8709: 5625: 4282: 24767:(2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. pp. 21633:

Fictitious paper candidate running as "For the Anglo-Irish Agreement"

21604:

Fictitious paper candidate running as "For the Anglo-Irish Agreement"

21463:

Fictitious paper candidate running as "For the Anglo-Irish Agreement"

16918:

resigned after admitting watching pornography in the House of Commons.

10611:

stands as an independent Conservative, 20 years after losing his seat.

10418:

loses one of the Conservatives' safest seats to the Liberal Democrats.

8762:

On 23 January 1986, Wesley Robert Williamson (who changed his name to

25058:"Sir David Amess: death threats to British Somalis after MP's murder" 24427: 22328: 22297: 22266: 22235: 22214: 22204: 20450:

list of minor party and independent MPs elected in the United Kingdom

19541: 18176:

was convicted of high treason after fighting on the Boer side in the

18015: 17787: 17187: 16928:

resigned after his conviction of sexual assault on a 15-year-old boy.

16895: 16735: 15987: 12960: 12861:

ran again after a recall petition against him succeeded. Davies lost.

12611:, although he was disqualified from sitting because he was in prison. 12393: 12263:, becoming the first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons. 10244: 10169: 10113: 9873: 9807: 9105: 8604: 7724:, which is only refunded if the candidate wins 5% of the votes cast. 2509: 144:

For comparison purposes the following definitions have been adopted.

90:

Frequent interventions and withdrawals of parties in different seats.

25216:"Margaret Ferrier: Covid breach MP loses seat after recall petition" 24120:, scene of the party's greatest triumph only eight years previously. 23623:(lone mainland Irish Nationalist was essentially a Labour supporter) 23545:(incumbent Conservative MP ran as an Independent with party backing) 18908: 18512:

Not mentioned in the written Commons answer, but does appear in the

18505:

Mentioned in the written Commons answer, but does not appear in the

18123: 13888: 13619:

party, an Irish Republican group that merged into Sinn Féin, gained

12383: 25271: 24288: 24264: 20428:

The victor was the sitting MP, who had left the Conservative party.

19313: 19214: 18137: 14170: 14129: 14074: 14022: 13752:

For a period of 11 years, from the 1997 general election until the

12627:, who lost sight in one eye after a car crash in 1911, who won the 11977:

for the Conservatives. He was a former Prime Minister of Australia.

5851: 1513: 1438: 1340:

Seat contested by the incumbent MP, who failed to gain re-election.

194: 25159:"Death of Scots Labour MP. Mr Thomas Cook Killed in Road Accident" 24149:, defeated by the former Liberal MP turned Labour candidate, Lady 22657: 20902: 20871: 20840: 20809: 20778: 20747: 20716: 20685: 20110: 19780: 19418: 18276:

By-elections prompted by death of member on wartime active service

18258: 17475: 16778:

died before his election declaration at the 1906 general election.

16768:

died before his election declaration at the 1935 general election.

16758:

died before his election declaration at the 1945 general election.

16748:

died before his election declaration at the 1945 general election.

13485: 12434:. He was not permitted to take his seat until the following year. 12242:

for the Ulster Unionists, after a protest resignation against the

11101: 10494:, former Labour MP, stands for the SDP, fails to take Labour seat. 8961:

returns after failing to win a seat in the 2010 general election.

2663: 324: 234:

For more information about what is meant by the term "swing", see

82:

which expanded the franchise of women to be equal to that of men.

25294:"Labour MP Christian Matheson stands down over sexual misconduct" 23641: 23617:(Conservatives stood aside to allow election of National Liberal) 18983: 15349: 13476: 12871:

resigned and ran as an independent in protest of plans to expand

12438: 11057: 9859:

returns after disclaiming his peerage. He had previously sat for

9832:

returns after disclaiming his peerage. He had previously sat for

8661:

finally secured election at her third by-election attempt at the

8576:* Four of these eight were between the Unionist incumbent and a " 2708:

Compared with the Brexit Party candidate at the general election.

1347: 99:

and truces between parties, in particular during both World Wars.

25415:

by Michael Stenton and Stephen Lees (Harvester, Brighton, 1979)

24987:

Portrait of a Party: The Conservative Party in Britain 1918–1945

24408:, is again defeated; he is forced to resign from the Government. 24344:: The loss of the seat to the Conservatives tipped Labour under 21194: 21165: 17886:

By-elections prompted by member's desire to contest another seat

16966:

resigned after becoming embroiled in a social media controversy.

13180:

resigned on 7 March 1969; the writ was moved on 13 October 1969.

13170:

died on 19 February 1969; the writ was moved on 13 October 1969.

12607:, who lost his right arm in a factory accident in 1857, won the 12312:

so this could arguably be classed as the first gain by a woman.

8897: 24239: 24078:

The Conservative Party fell from second to fourth place in the

23740: 21870: 19932:

By-election victors had not contested previous general election

18784:: Labour candidate, loss to Workers Party of Britain candidate. 18006:

By-elections prompted by disqualification of the sitting Member

17967:

massively increased the minute majority he had achieved in the

17804:'s appeasement policy and sought re-election. She was defeated. 17195:

By-elections prompted to provide seat for seat-less personality

16809:

lost a recall petition, after Ferrier was convicted at Glasgow

15311: 13184: 12694:

By-elections losers awarded seats on disqualification of winner

12529: 12487: 12473: 2715: 125:

Generally higher variation in size of constituency electorates.

24585:

Last by-election caused by appointment to ministerial office:

24070:

The drop in the Conservative share of the vote, 11.1%, at the

19292: 19083: 17935:

By-elections caused by the previous result being declared void

17190:

resigned after being cited as co-respondent in a divorce case.

14067: 11876: 11829:

retired at next general election, upon succession to a peerage

7720:

nominations in a general election, candidates must pay a £500

5858:, as his supporters mistakenly believed that he had withdrawn. 1869: 240: 25712:

Lists of by-elections to the Parliament of the United Kingdom

25331:"Mid Ulster by-election: Lutton chosen as unionist candidate" 22170: 21989: 21960: 21929: 21900: 20549: 20422:

The victor was the sitting MP, who had left the Labour party.

20246: 19034: 18920: 17425:, left the Labour Party and resigned to force a by-election. 16908:

resigned after being suspended for serious sexual misconduct.

15081:

Occasionally seats are left vacant for a substantial period.

14163: 14115: 14029: 13881: 12743: 12515: 11425:

retired at next general election due to personal difficulties

11138: 10932: 8751:

label stood at seven by-elections, receiving 99 votes at the

8747:

Under various ballot paper descriptions, David Bishop of the

2445:

the Independent Labour Party share dropped from 69.4% in the

1496: 198: 25198:"Peter Bone: How Wellingborough ended up with a by-election" 24171: 23364: 23334: 23304: 22712: 22686: 20280: 20263: 20059: 20042: 19362: 17446: 17170:

resigned after being found to have disclosed budget secrets.

17160:

resigned after being found to have disclosed budget secrets.

15842: 13747: 12315: 12246:, although he had been an MP almost continuously since 1950. 10456:

fails to regain the seat for Sinn Féin that he held 1981–83.

9196: 9162: 6749:

Turnout is the percentage of registered electors who voted.

5090: 4965: 4261: 3376: 3369: 24793:"Labour holds in Cardiff and Manchester but turnout is low" 24228:

in which Labour ultimately achieved a net gain of 30 seats.

22794: 22766: 22738: 22388: 22354: 21751: 19046: 17385: 17356: 17180:

resigned after being found to have abused a travel voucher.

14189:

Seats with more than one by-election in a single Parliament

13725:, a span of 11 years, 9 months and 21 days. 13398: 12501: 2606: 2107: 1561: 24573:

Last unopposed by-election in England, Scotland or Wales:

21290:

did not stand candidates and supported Lutton's candidacy

20646: 20419:

Alliance partner the Liberal party had contested the seat.

17843:

had made council gains in Cork. He was returned unopposed.

17722:

By-elections resulting from Members resigning on principle

12540: 12223:

for the Conservatives. He had served previously as MP for

10661:

fails to regain the seat, a year after retiring as its MP.

8712:, who ran in 19 by-elections. His highest vote was at the 8708:

Perennial fringe candidates include such personalities as

8584:", the name of the then Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs. 6918: 5577: 3590:

The by-election was not contested by any other major party

24645:

First by-election to be called via the provisions of the

24097:

The Labour party fell from second to fourth place in the

23569:, who did not put up another candidate after he resigned) 21812: 20314: 20008: 19264: 18776:

Incumbents fall directly from first place to fourth place

18373:

was killed in action in a plane crash in the Middle-East.

16799:

following accusations of bullying and sexual misconduct.

16510: 16503: 15238: 13589: 13455: 12833: 11285: 11241: 10223:

by-election gain held at the subsequent general election

10220:

by-election gain lost at the subsequent general election

9851: 8975: 6691: 6601: 6131: 3654: 3101: 3094: 2876: 2869: 2122: 1947: 1601: 70:" with tiny and tightly controlled electorates until the 23394: 22628: 22599: 22570: 20624: 20479: 20443: 20127: 19957: 19299: 19235: 18789:

Incumbents fall directly from first place to third place

18437:

was killed in action on bombing operations over Germany.

17786:

honoured a pledge to stand down if law changed to allow

14868:

Other seats with by-elections less than five years apart

13305: 13231:, which occurred during the unique circumstances of the 12449:. As an atheist, Bradlaugh was not allowed to swear the 10969: 10762:. In eight instances since 1900 they were unsuccessful: 10699:

narrowly fails to take the seat, as a Constitutionalist.

10504:

fails for the Liberals in a by-election held during the

10155:

seat in a 1908 by-election, upon his appointment to the

8928: 5040: 4786: 3976: 3813:

1939 Clackmannanshire and East Stirlingshire by-election

1776: 1769: 1626: 1594: 348: 25312:"Mid Ulster TUV Chair Signs Lutton's Nomination Papers" 23650:

Conservative loss, gained by Empire Free Trade Crusade.

22539: 22510: 22479: 22450: 22419: 21137: 20195: 20144: 19903: 19851: 19832: 19806: 19728: 19702: 19676: 19643: 19617: 19591: 19474: 19460: 19446: 19404: 19390: 19348: 19109: 19074: 18427:

was killed in action while serving with the Royal Navy.

17871:

support. He was defeated, finishing bottom of the poll.

17671: 17586: 17528: 17375: 17346: 17319: 16724: 16717: 16689: 16682: 16619: 16612: 16580: 15967: 15929: 15823: 15816: 15794: 15787: 15765: 15758: 15677: 15670: 15647: 15611: 15582: 15414: 15407: 15368: 15298: 15291: 14108: 14053: 13425: 13416: 13365: 13356: 13296: 12990: 12553:, who lost sight of an eye in a boyhood fight, won the 11307: 11219: 10991: 10867: 10199: 10173: 10117: 9824: 9798: 9772: 9746: 9720: 9694: 9668: 9642: 9616: 9590: 9564: 9538: 9512: 9382: 9330: 9304: 9278: 9252: 9135: 9079: 9053: 9027: 9001: 6709: 6655: 6619: 6583: 6457: 6439: 6421: 6403: 6367: 6295: 6241: 6223: 6149: 6113: 6095: 6019: 6001: 5963: 5943: 5925: 4915: 4840: 4736: 4486: 4411: 4361: 4236: 4136: 3929: 3829: 3679: 3629: 3551: 3544: 3501: 3494: 3469: 3151: 3144: 2976: 2969: 2638: 2581: 2513: 2404: 2397: 2372: 2322: 2297: 2272: 2247: 2229: 2204: 2172: 2097: 2072: 1997: 1904: 1844: 1819: 1794: 1744: 1719: 1644: 1489: 1407: 1390: 1277: 1253: 1229: 1188: 1164: 1133: 1085: 1061: 1037: 1020: 996: 972: 941: 917: 893: 869: 845: 821: 797: 773: 749: 701: 677: 653: 605: 581: 557: 509: 468: 437: 413: 372: 293: 80:

Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928

25476: 25031:"Manchester Gorton by-election cancellation confirmed" 24678:

Records of members of parliament of the United Kingdom

24116:, in a seat parts of which had once been in adjoining 23753:

The Conservative Party did not run a candidate in the

22566: